Spissky Hrad Castle

Spissky Hrad is a majestic castle located in Slovakia. It rises in the suburb of Spišský Podhrady. The defensive structure is considered the country’s calling card and is often put on souvenirs. Spišský Hrad Castle does look majestic, occupying a rock in the middle of the valley. The powerful walls of the fortress are a reminder of past greatness, because in medieval times it was almost impregnable.

.

Even tourists who have visited many castles in different parts of Europe are surprised by the monumentality of Spiš Castle. The castle is definitely worth a look, as it is considered the largest in Slovakia and the largest in Central Europe. It covers an area of 41 thousand m² (4 hectares). It is worth spending two or three hours to visit the structure to leisurely explore the towers and take pictures of the scenery.

.

The historical site is protected by UNESCO. Of the 170 castles in Slovakia, only 6 are listed by this organization, and one of them is Spišský Hrad. Interestingly, in the late 20th and early 21st century, many historical movies were filmed in this place.

.

Video: Spišský Grad

Contents

History of Spišský Grad

The first fortifications on the rock date back to the 11th century, but written mention of the castle dates back to the 13th century. Even then, Europe felt threatened by the threat that came from the East. To protect the land from the Mongol hordes, the mountain was fortified and a border outpost was built. Then the fortress was expanded and rebuilt. Soon the Mongol-Tatars became interested in the stronghold, but their attempts to seize it were unsuccessful. The Spišský Hrad castle continued to be improved, and in the XIII century the Upper Court was created. A tower appeared for the locals, who occupied it during the siege.

At the end of the 13th century, the royal family lived in Spišský Hrad. Since then, the defensive structure has changed many owners, but all of them paid special attention to security. The castle was regularly strengthened, new weapons were added, and the number of guards increased. In the XV century the noble family Zapolski lived here. A century later, Ferdinand I Habsburg defeated Jan Zapolski during the civil war, and together with the title of Hungarian king, Spiš Castle was given to him. Although the new owner did not manage to retain the reins of power, the castle remained with him. The castle was sold to a Hungarian merchant, and a century later the Csáky family became the owners of the area. The fortification was in their possession until 1945.

.

Spišský Hrad was tried several times to capture, but failed. Only the natural elements “won” over it – it was destroyed in a fire in the 18th century. The owners decided not to rebuild the structure. After the end of the war, the castle became the property of Czechoslovakia, it was declared a national monument and was reconstructed. Today, Spišský Hrad is partially open to visitors and continues to be restored, with archaeological research being conducted on the territory.

.

Tour of the castle

Spišský Grad is located on a mountain (the height from its foot is 200 meters). It takes about 15-30 minutes to climb up to the building. On the same steep slope once passed the Tatar-Mongol conquests in the XIII century. By car you can drive up to the parking lot, from it you have to walk 5 minutes along the asphalted path. The height of the walls differs in different sections – it varies from 20 to 40 meters. Spišský Grad consists of the Upper, Middle and Lower Courtyards. Although they are connected to each other, they are separate units in the defense complex. Each of them has its own secret passages, walls and towers. If the enemy conquered any of them, it did not guarantee the final victory.

.

The Middle Court was the first to be erected. The lower one was created later, in the 15th century. Then a defense tower was erected, a palace in Romanesque style, and the Upper Court was built. Then warehouses, a knight’s room, and living quarters were added.

>

Today you can tour the walls and towers of Spišský Grad. There are no usual guides or caretakers here. Instead, there are guides who appear as wizards, stargazers, princesses, and knights. This helps to create a romantic atmosphere of antiquity. Each group of tourists is guided by a knight in armor, who carries the banner of his squad. Tourists have the opportunity to use an audio guide, but Russian is not provided here. But there are information booklets translated into different languages.

.

Entering Spišský Grad, guests get to the central square. There is a café, an archery range and a ticket office. Tourists are offered to see the torture chamber with instruments, the armory, climb the tower and walk along the walls.

.

The Lower Courtyard is spacious – children can run, climb on the cannons. Guests rest on the green lawn, weather permitting, and walk along the restored part of the fortress wall. There are different areas – with animation, contests, singing songs of the peoples of Slovakia, a shooting gallery with the opportunity to shoot medieval weapons. For example, for children they offer an animation program about a dragon and a princess. Inside the castle, there is a museum of weapons.

The palace, which houses a collection of weapons and restored ancient interiors, has been partially preserved. Part of the palace premises are set aside for a mini open-air theater. Tourists are also shown a torture room, and opposite it is a chapel. Between the objects there is a narrow corridor. The knights’ hall, where the meal was held, has also been preserved.

.

The first monumental structure was a donjon tower made of stone. It was the beginning of the creation of the Spiš Castle. The tower consisted of several floors, where the owner’s family lived and guards were stationed. Only the foundations of the structure and the remains of the water tank have been preserved. The structure was destroyed in the XIII century due to an earthquake. Most of the castle has not survived, and the ancient structure continues to deteriorate due to voids in the rock.

.

The highest tower of Spišský Grad offers magnificent views. A narrow staircase with slippery steps leads to the top, so you should take care of comfortable and non-slip shoes. After climbing up the spiral staircase, guests of the castle are delighted by the view: forests, spacious fields, meadows and houses. In the evening, the fortification is illuminated.

.

A trip to Spišský Hrad Castle can be combined with a visit to the nearby Drevenik National Nature Reserve. There is an easy hiking route between the two, with views of the hills along the way. Often tours to Spišský Hrad are complemented with an hour-long hike around Drevenik. A few kilometers from the castle in a small town, a magnificent palace built for the Caca family, the last owners of Spišský Grad, has been preserved.

.

Festivals in Spišský Hrad Castle

The castle grounds regularly host concerts, festivals, and performances. Officially, the tourist season in Spišský Grad opens in May, and an entertainment program is timed to coincide with it. Every year Spiš Castle joins the international campaign “Night of Museums” and organizes tours after sunset with free admission. In August, the festival “Summer in Spišský Grad” is organized. It includes theatrical performances, concerts and ceramics workshops. On the days of historical reenactments a special atmosphere is created thanks to the mermen.

.

Opening hours and costs

Spišský Grad is open from April to October. During the rest of the period, you can admire the fortification from the outside – the entrance inside is closed at this time. Tourists are allowed to stay in the castle from 9 am to 5 pm. The ticket office is available until 4pm Monday through Friday. Every first Sunday of the month is free admission. The rest of the time the ticket price is 6 euros for adults, 4 euros for students and pensioners, 3 euros for children from 6 to 18 years old. You can buy a family ticket (up to 4 people) for 14 euros: for 1 adult and three children or for two adults and two children. You have to pay extra for using the audio guide for more than an hour and a half.

.

Facilities for guests

There are two parking lots near Spišské Hrada – a paid parking lot at the foot of the castle and a free parking lot on the opposite side of Spišské Podhradie. There is a toilet near the free parking lot. Inside the castle there is a cafe and a souvenir store.

.

How to get there

There are buses to Spišský Hrad from Levoč and Poprad. About 3 kilometers must be walked. The nearest train station is only in the town of Spišský Poprad. Car travelers arrive by highway D-1 and turn off on the road leading to the castle.

.